I really didn't want to burn it.

He wanted to fulfill what Kiritsugu had dreamed of but failed to achieve.

Just thinking about it made Shirou's expression excited, and something inside him swelled up.

So he continued.

"Dad, you're an adult now, so you might not be able to do it. But I'm fine. So, leave it to me, Dad, and carry on your dream."

A proud smile spread across Shirou's face as he spoke words that sounded like a vow.

"Then I can rest assured."

Kiritsugu's voice was filled with relief.

He closed his eyes and stopped breathing.

This man, who had accomplished nothing in his life and never won any victory, breathed his last breath with a sense of peace, as if he were asleep.

Kiritsugu stood quietly to the side, witnessing his own "future" death.

He didn't know what to say.

Sorry?

There must be someone there, because Ilya wasn't with the father and son—she was probably imprisoned by the Einzbern family.

Sad?

There's another example: Kiritsugu, who spent his entire life striving for lofty ideals, ended up with nothing but the deaths of countless people.

Are you pleased?

This also applies, because he was redeemed before his death and had a son he was incredibly proud of.

"If this is my end... then so be it."

Kiritsugu seemed to have forgotten that he was still on the battlefield, and even commented on his own death.

If a man like himself could pass away peacefully in the end, what else is there for him to pursue?

As for Emiya Shirou, this child is much stronger than me and will definitely not become like me.

However, this last bit of beauty was soon to come.

The illusion did not end with Kiritsugu's death.

Because this illusion does not depict Kiritsugu Emiya's life, but rather Shirou Emiya's life.

Kiritsugu's death was an end for him, but a beginning for Shirou Emiya.

Thus, Kiritsugu witnessed the life of that red-clad heroic spirit, the life that inherited his child's, the legacy and curse known as "Partners of Justice."

M78 Nebula 756365104

PS: Shirou's way of calling Kiritsugu "old man" should actually be more accurately translated as "grandfather".

This has been specifically described and commented on in Fate/Zero novels and some Type-Moon spin-off comics. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

So, Illya is actually Shirou's... stepmother?

Stepmother loli and stuff...

Thinking about it this way, Mimi suddenly got really excited! (* /ω＼*)

Chapter 173 Shirou, thank you for choosing to be my son.

This is a man's story.

His ideals were purer than anyone else's, and he never gave up even after death, which is why he experienced a life more desperate than anyone else's.

Wanting to save everyone, he relentlessly trained and pushed himself, all for the sake of that vow made under the moonlight.

However, the more lofty his ideals were, the more skeletal his reality became.

Pursuing his dream of becoming a "partner of justice," he soon found himself in a desperate situation where his own strength was insufficient to save humanity.

Feeling inadequate in his abilities, he voluntarily made a pact with the world to save others, becoming a hero who could bring about miracles.

By sacrificing oneself to save all living beings, a hero is born.

But even though he's called a hero, nothing has changed about what he does.

His original goal was not to become a hero, but simply that he needed the power of heroes in the process of pursuing his ideals.

From then on, heroes devoted themselves to the battle, whether it was to save a small number of forces or to fight for justice, even if they were powerless and prepared to die.

He embarked on the path of helping others and becoming a partner of justice.

He wasn't dreaming of creating a world without conflict; he simply hoped that at least no one in front of him would shed tears.

But the reality is that every time we try to save the people in front of us, many people get hurt, and in order to save those people, even more people are killed.

Perhaps it was fate, but the hero encountered the same troubles as his father and made a similar decision.

When he realized that there were always some people who could not be saved, he chose to sacrifice some people to save more people.

In order to minimize harm, he personally amputated the bodies of those who could not be saved as quickly as possible.

Until the very end, he didn't care about the lives of the innocent.

He never revealed his true feelings to anyone, and to those around him, he was just an eccentric oddball.

Although he always rescued people from trouble, his overly noble and selfless character caused unease among them.

Despite bearing numerous accusations and betrayals, he continued to fight.

After all, other people's attitudes are dispensable to him; his reward for helping others is simply the act of "being able to help someone."

He had partners and lovers.

However, after losing everything, he was driven to the brink by the ideals he had been pursuing.

He desperately tried to stop the war, but was ultimately betrayed by the very person he had saved. He died tragically due to the betrayal of his companions and was sent to the gallows as the culprit of the conflict.

Even though he died betrayed, the hero died with a satisfied smile, and before he died, he saw the landscape of his own mind.

After his death, this man became a Heroic Spirit, just as the contract had stipulated, and continued to save humanity.

Even though he died because of betrayal, he still did not hate humanity and hoped to continue protecting them.

However, what the inhibitory force needs is not a hero of noble character, but a cleaner who can get the job done.

As a result, the man continued to do the things he did in life even after he died.

Finally, as the man's ideals were worn away in the endless cycle of reincarnation, he stood alone on his own Hill of Swords, filled with deep regret.

"This...what is this?"

Emiya Kiritsugu stands in a world where everything is a weapon.

Looking at the desolate land, the flames in the distance, and the giant gear in the sky, he roared at this world that resembled an ironworks.

"What the hell is this!"

It is the future, and it is history.

Even without an answer, Kiritsugu would understand.

That was the history of that red-clad heroic spirit, and also the future of his adopted son, Shirou Emiya.

That's it?

Is this the end for the child who saved him and left the world with a sense of relief?

The truth is so cruel. What you thought was salvation and fulfillment turned out to be nothing more than something imposed on the suffering of others.

Kiritsugu Emiya was secretly pleased that he had saved a life, but in the end he destroyed that child.

That child had a lover who liked him and friends who cared about him; he should have had a happy and fulfilling life.

But Shirou Emiya willingly gave up all of this, just to fulfill his vow to Kiritsugu Emiya and to realize his dream of becoming a "partner of justice".

"This is my fault... I... I... I..."

After the initial anxiety subsided, Kiritsugu's emotions gradually calmed down.

Immediately afterwards, a feeling of regret spread through his heart.

In a daze, Kiritsugu was once again surrounded by darkness. The sounds of the Sword Hill scene gradually faded away, and a voice echoed in his mind.

You killed him, you ruined him, it was you...

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...Shirou...I..."

The man named Emiya Kiritsugu was utterly and completely devastated by the life of his adopted son.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Snapped!

Snapped!

Snapped!

Emiya Kiritsugu was slapped three times across the face.

"Hey! Kiritsugu Emiya! Wake up!"

The red-clad Heroic Spirit shook Kiritsugu's body vigorously, not daring to continue slapping him, for fear of knocking out his old man's teeth.

Kiritsugu Emiya didn't look at him; he seemed still immersed in the clip he had just seen.

"It's my fault...it's all my fault..."

"no!"

Red A vehemently denied it.

"It's not your fault, it's my own choice, Dad!"

Emiya Kiritsugu remained unmoved.

He can't forgive himself, he never will.

Kiritsugu Emiya pinned his life's hopes on the Holy Grail, and after the miracle was shattered, he placed all his hopes on his adopted son.

In the end, the adopted son was imprisoned for his entire life by his own unrealistic wish.

What is the meaning of my life?

Kiritsugu Emiya slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant, surrounded by black mud that fueled his despairing thoughts.

This made Archer very worried about his father's condition. If he continued to be so depressed, Kiritsugu Emiya might be drowned in the black mud, and even if he were a Heroic Spirit, he wouldn't be able to bring Kiritsugu back.

"Emiya Kiritsugu! You can't fall here yet!"

Unfortunately, Kiritsugu Emiya was still plagued by endless self-blame and despair, and at this point he was more like an empty shell.

What's the most effective way to attack someone?

Naturally, you give him hope, and then shatter that hope completely.

Kiritsugu Emiya is currently in such a situation. When he discovered that he was responsible for his adopted son's tragedy, his spirit was completely destroyed.

Seeing Kiritsugu's zombie-like state, Archer felt immense fear and panic.

He would rather travel through countless parallel worlds to fight Shirou Emiya when he was still a boy than face Kiritsugu Emiya.

The red-clad Heroic Spirit is a contradictory being named Emiya Shirou.

Even if he regrets his actions, the Heroic Spirit Emiya only blames his immature past self, trying to amplify the distortion by using the contradiction of "killing his past self with his own hands" so that the existence of the Heroic Spirit Emiya will disappear.

But there is actually an even more useful trick: kill Kiritsugu Emiya and make Shirou Emiya, a person who could have never existed, disappear.

However, Emiya never intended to do so.

Kiritsugu Emiya was a very special person to him; he was the beginning of his Heroic Spirit Emiya, his idol, and the meaning of his existence.

"Dad, pull yourself together! You're Emiya Kiritsugu!"

Red A's knuckles, which were gripping Kiritsugu's shoulders, began to turn white. It was as if he was increasing the pressure to bring Kiritsugu back to his senses, or perhaps he was struggling with himself.

Finally, Kiritsugu reacted to Archer's move.

He took the initiative to embrace the red-clad heroine, calming his own panicked child.